Tax Administration Reform in the Francophone Countries of Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Since the early 1990s, major tax administration reforms have been implemented in the Francophone countries of sub-Saharan Africa, with significant support from the IMF and development partners. While the reforms have contributed to an increase in revenues, attention is still needed to address a number of weaknesses in these countries’ tax administrations. A review of the conditions for successful modernization of the tax administration shows that significant changes are needed to ensure better utilization of technical assistance, improve the governance of reforms, and provide the tax administrations with greater flexibility in managing their resources.

Keywords: Tax administration, Sub-Saharan Africa, Tax reforms, Tax revenues, tax administration, reform, modernization, technical assistance, tax administration, tax department, tax administrations, tax offices, local tax offices, tax revenues, domestic tax, taxpayer services, tax administration reforms, taxpayer identification, tax obligations, tax collection, tax collections, tax reforms, domestic taxes, direct taxation, tax officials, direct tax, tax compliance, tax rolls, tax audit, tax arrears, indirect taxation, stamp duties, tax administration reform, tax departments, tax officers, taxpayer information, tax systems, tax legislation, direct taxes, property taxes, import taxes, tax advisors, pers

JEL Classification: H20, H25, O55